Roll feed attachment for duplicating apparatus



Jan. 16, 1968 D. W. SAMES 3,363,959

ROLL FEED ATTACHMENT FOR DUPLICATING APPARATUS Original Filed June 5. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTIOR DELBERT W. SAMES ATTORNEY D. W- SAMES Jan. 16, 1968 ROLL FEED ATTACHMENT FOR DUPLICATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 5, 1964 F I G. 4

ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,363,959 ROLL FEED ATTACHMENT FOR DUPLICATENG AEPARATUS Delbert W. Santos, Conklin, N.Y., assignor to General Aniline & Film Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application June 5, 1964, Ser. No. 372,901, new Patent No. 3,292,471. Divided and this application Oct. 6, 1966, set. No. 584,364

3 Claims. (Cl. 312-326) This is a division of application Ser. No. 372,901,

In thermo printiug, use is made of heat-sensitive materials which, in contact with an original, are subjected to radiation rich in infrared to obtain a print of the original.

Whatever the process may be, it is advantageous to use sensitized material in continuous sheet or web form placed on a storage roll from which various lengths may be cut by the operator of the machine in accordance with the requirements dictated by the length of the original to be copied.

In the reproduction of engineering drawings which are of larger sizes and lengths, to diazotype machines are particularly advantageous. These generally employ a rotating glass cylinder containing an ultraviolet light source. The sensitized sheet, in contact with the original, is passed over the cylinder for exposure, after which the original is returned from the machine and the exposed sensitized sheet is conveyed further for either gaseous or moist development.

In machines of the above type, the roll stock of sensitized material is hand fed by the operator and cut to the required size by the snapping of a steel wire at the time the Original is about to be fully conveyed into the machine. Such cutting can never be made accurately to the size of the original, thus leaving large margins of unused sensitized material to pass through the machine. This represents not only a waste of the material itself, but also a waste of time caused, first by the operators judgment in cutting and, secondly, by the time required for the unused portion of the material to pass through the machine.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide an automatic roll feeding instrumentality which may easily be attached to existing duplicating machines of various types or may be built integral there with.

It is a particular feature of the invention that feeding from a storage roll into the duplicating apparatus is automatically effected by the presence of an original to be copied and such feed progresses until the original passes the reference point.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the sensitized sheet material is automatically cut to any length corresponding to an original which may be inserted into the machine for copying.

It is an ancillary feature of the invention that the storage roll of the sensitized material located in a compartment may easily be inserted into the apparatus and the compartment automatically partially opened upon depletion of the roll so as to indicate the need for refill.

Other objects and features will be apparent from the following description of the invention, pointed out in 3,363,959 Patented Jan. 16, 1968 particularity in the appended claims, and taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the roll feeding attachment applied to a diazotype reproducing apparatus, various portions being broken away for illustration;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic sectional view of the roll feeding and cutting apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the roll storage compartment in tilted position; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the drive and cutting assembly together with the circuit of the electrical sensing elements.

As mentioned before, the automatic roll feeding device of the present invention may be applied to various types of duplicating or photocopying apparatus. By way of example, in describing the construction and operation thereof, a conventional diazotype machine has been chosen as part of the assembly. Only pertinent portions of such a machine are illustrated since, except for the infeed of the original and sensitized material, the ensuing printing and developing functions have no bearing on the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the reproduction apparatus portion shown comprises the housing 6, the infeed rollers 7 and 8, the latter being driven by the chain 9. The infeed channel for the original is provided by the guide plates 10 and 11 which converge toward the infeed rollers 7 and 8. The latter, in fact, carry the endless feed belts 12 which wrap around the printing cylinder within the machine, not shown here, and thus convey the original and the sensitized mate-rial.

The roll feed attachment, in accordance with the invention, includes the roll compartment 14 which is tiltable over pivot 15, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The spool 16 which carries the roll stock is supported in suitable bearings formed by a slotted block 17 attached to the inner wall plate 18 of the roll compartment 14.

A pair of feed rollers 19 and 20, of which the latter is driven by means of a magnetic clutch and gear arrangement, is provided for conveying the sensitized material 22 into the reproduction machine, namely, between the bite of infeed rollers 7 and 8. The drive consists of the intermediate gear 23 which engages the gear 24 of the roller 20. The coupling between these is controlled by an electric clutch 25, the operation of which will be described later.

The power drive may be taken from the duplicating machine in various ways. By way of example, it is shown as comprising the chain 26, the sprocket 27 attached to the shaft of the infeed roller 8, idler sprocket 28, and drive sprockets 3t) and 31, the latter driving the gear 23.

The sensitized material 22 is looped under a straightening rod 32 attached to the inner wall of the casing. 33. The purpose of the rod is to provide enough back curl to calender the rolled material 22 before it enters the driven components of the roll feeder. Passing under the rod 32, the material 22 is then inserted between the feed rollers 19 and 20 rotating roller 19 by hand. This ope ation is performed by hand whenever a new roll of sensitized material is placed into the machine. In the path of the sensitized material 22 is an electrically operated rotary knife 37, the stationery cutting edge thereof being part of the support 35.

As mentioned befo e, the infeed channel for the original 29 is between guide plates 10 and 11 which converge toward the infeed rollers 7 and 8. At this point, the original 29 meets the sensitized material 22. The feed'in of the original is elfected by rollers 33 and 40, the latter being power driven from the sprocket 30 over which the chain 26 is looped. Extending into the infeed channel for the original 29 are resilient fingers 42 and 4-3 of electrical sensing elements in the form of switches 42' and 43', respectively.

The purpose of placement of the sensing elements will be described in connection with the operation of the feed system. A third switch 44 is placed further along the path of the original 29. It functions simply to activate a pilot light 45 for indicating the passage of the original 29 beyond this reference point, and the readiness of the apparatus to accept another original for processing.

The first step in the operation of the roll feed attachment is, of course, the loading of roll stock. This is placed in a special compartment 14 which is opened 'by tilting it over the pivot 15. The sensitized material 22 is then guided under the calender rod 32 is previously mentioned.

As seen in FIG. 3, the pivot point of the compartment is eccentric with respect to the center of gravity so that it has a tendency to tilt open where there is only an empty spool therein. However, when loaded and closed,

the weight of the roll and/or the tension will maintain the compartment in closed position. This is a very convenient feature in that the automatic opening of the compartment gives notice that the supply roll has been nearly used up, and insertion of a new roll is needed.

The leading edge of the sensitized material 22 is then fed between the feed-in rollers 19 and 20 by manually rotating the former until the material is engaged approximately 2 to 3 inches and in position between the guide plate 34 and support 35.

To prepare the feeder for the insertion of the first original, a sheet of paper is inserted into the channel formed by the guide plates 11 and 10, the latter serving also as a feedboard, and is gripped by feed-in rollers 39 and 40. As it progresses toward the infeed rollers 7 and 8, its leading edge trips the finger 42 of the switch 42'.

As seen in FIG. 4, when this switch is actuated, it closes the clutch circuit, preparing it to be energized at a later time.

An instant later, the leading edge of the original 29 trips the finger 43 of the switch 43, thereby energizing the aforementioned clutch circuit.

As long as the two switches 42' and 43 are held in by the original, the clutch 25 will be energized and the sensitized material 22 will continue to be tied into the copying machine for processing.

The moment the trailing edge of the original passes by the end of sensing finger 42 of switch 42' the clutch is deenergized, thus stopping the drive roller 20 and the feeding of sensitized material 22. At the same instant that the clutch is de-energized, the solenoid 38 is energized, causing the sensitized material 22 to be severed to a length equivalent to the length of the original 29.

A moment later the trailing edge of the original 29 passes by the sensing finger 43 of switch 43', thereby de-energizing the solenoid circuit and causing the rotary knife 37 to return to operating. position. The feeding device is now prepared for the insertion of the next original or the re-insertion of the first original 29. However, because of the nature of the particular copying apparatus 6 shown, one must wait until the trailing edge of the original 29 passes by switch 44 which extinguishes the pilOt light 45, indicating to the operator that the next original may be fed into the feeder for processing. The next original may be the same original 29 since, in such machines, the latter is ejected after exposure in order that another copy thereof may be made.

The electrical source in FlG. 4 is represented schematically by terminals (T1 and T3) which may be attached to any convenient location to the duplicating machine power source, and by the rectifier 46.

A switch 50 is connected in the feeder circuit in order that the feeder device may be turned oif completely, thereby allowing the operator to use the original feed system for the insertion of pre-cut sensitized material of a different nature than the material already loaded in the feeder compartment.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus consuming a sheet material from a storage roll, a housing, a pivoted compartment therein accommodating said roll placed on a spool, said compartment being tiltable for the removal of the empty spool and for insertion of a new supply roll, the pivot point of said compartment being so placed with respect to the axis of said roll as to cause said compartment to be closed by the weight of said new supply roll and to open upon reduction of the weight due to the consumption of said material.

2. In a photocopying apparatus utilizing a sensitized sheet material from a storage roll, a housing for said apparatus, a pivoted compartment therein accommodating a spool carrying said roll, said compartment being tiltable over said pivot for the removal of the empty spool and for the insertion of a new supply roll, the pivot point of said compartment being so placed with respect to the axis of said roll as to cause said compartment to open automatically upon reduction of the weight of said roll due to consumption of said material.

3. In an apparatus consuming a sheet material from a storage roll, a housing, a compartment therein accommodating said roll placed on a spool, said compartment being tiltable over a pivot point for the removal of the empty spool and for the insertion of a new supply roll, said pivot point being so placed with respect to the axis of said roll as to form a pivot point eccentric to the center of gravity of said compartment, thereby effecting closure of said compartment containing said new supply roll and causing automatic opening thereof upon consumption of said material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 551,138 12/1895 McGowan 31239 1,026,128 5/1912 Rydquist 31239 2,482,714 9/1949 Mell 312-39 X 2,735,740 2/1956 Soans 312234 2,738,898 3/1956 Lee 31239 X 2,772,133 11/1956 Birr 31238 JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN APPARATUS CONSUMING A SHEET MATERIAL FROM A STORAGE ROLL, A HOUSING, A PIVOTED COMPARTMENT THEREIN ACCOMMODATING SAID ROLL PLACED ON A SPOOL, SAID COMPARTMENT BEING TILTABLE FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE EMPTY SPOOL AND FOR INSERTION OF A NEW SUPPLY ROLL, THE PIVOT POINT OF SAID COMPARTMENT BEING SO PLACED WITH RESPECT TO THE AXIS OF SAID ROLL AS TO CAUSE SAID COMPARTMENT TO BE CLOSED BY 